They fear vulnerable families hit by the recession are being pushed over the edge as their financial problems mount.

But many who need help are unable to get it as spending on social work is cut to the bone.

Children’s services face unprecedented pressures, with more kids being taken into care and more families needing help.

Last year 21,000 children were subject to child protection plans because they were at risk of harm from neglect, up 7.5 per cent on the previous year.

The shocking statistics only cover neglect and do not include children at risk of sexual or physical abuse.

Begging

Dr Ruth Gardner, head of the NSPCC’s neglect programme, said: “More people than ever are contacting us about child neglect.

“Some of this will be down to the public being more willing to speak out – and this can only be a positive thing – but there is clearly a worrying trend.”

Callers to the charity’s helpline have described scores of cases of hungry kids begging neighbours for food.

Others have been worried about youngsters left home alone because working parents can’t afford child care costs.

And there have been reports of children outside in the cold for hours on end without warm clothing.

A dossier of cases seen by The Sun reveals the stark reality of child suffering behind the statistics.

One caller to the NSPCC helpline said: “The mother is drinking 24/7 and the child, who is three, is not being looked after properly.

“I walked into the house, the mother was passed out and the door wide open. The child was playing with a kettle and had got a bottle of bleach.”

Creeping problem

An email to the charity added: “There are flies and maggots in some of the rooms. The house is full of unwashed clothes and is a mess.

“The pet dog lives in their bathroom. The whole house stinks. The young child can’t play anywhere as there is so much mess.”

Neglect is a “creeping problem” among both rich and poor families, according to the NSPCC.

Astonishingly, it goes on in 8.1 per cent of the more affluent homes.

But it is twice as high among lower social groups where 16 per cent of kids suffer.

Too little is done to protect neglected kids in two in five child protection plans, according to research by Bristol University.

Professor Eileen Munro highlighted the importance of acting quickly in her review of children’s services following the death of Baby P in 2007.

But Dr Gardner stressed: “Social workers tell us they need better tools and training to help them identify and tackle neglect earlier.

“And parents need access to support to help them to change their neglectful behaviour. If we are to tackle this growing problem, these two issues must be addressed.”

CASE STUDIES

“He is running up and down the road on his own with just a nappy on. His mother is indoors and takes no notice. This has kept on happening for three months.”

An anonymous caller about a three-year-old boy.

“He had sick all down him and he was in a shocking state. He was smelling of wee and she won’t wash his clothes and he was going round in the same clothes day after day.”

An anonymous caller about a ten-year-old boy.

“The children often go round to other houses in the street asking for money or something to eat for dinner because the mum and dad spend their money on drink and drugs. I find this appalling.”

A neighbour concerned about children aged seven and four.

“He doesn’t relate well to other kids and is very aggressive. Late at night, sometimes after 11 o’clock, I see him outside on the road. I don’t think he gets enough food. Very often I see him going to school late. His clothes are filthy. This has been happening for several years.”

A neighbour contacting the NSPCC about a 12-year-old boy.

“Their home is really dirty, food is left out for days. The boy reheats the food and then eats it. He has to make his own food whilst his mother sleeps all day. He washes in puddles in the road. The mum goes out at night and leaves him on his own.”

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2 comments on “Child neglect doubles as hard times bite”

Taking children into care is`nt the answer,but that all the SS think about. The problem lies with the GOVERNMENT, they are forcing people back to work no mater what the cost, and as most JOBS are PART TIME,TEMP and some full time at minimum wage, people cant afford child care, its only the people that are earning income over £40,000 or Joint income of over £60,000 that can afford child care, Mr Cameron think because the average wage is £25,000 per person that everyone working is at least earning £25,000 but if he really looked into it, he would see that most people working to make the rich, richer are earning less than £15,000 per person, and if you happen to be luck and have a partner sharing the cost of child care, then they just might be able to pay for child care, but they would be paying around £8,000 to £15,000 for child care, do I have to say any more!!! What Mr Cameron needs to do is, Ask employers who employ more than 100 people to provide free child care within the work place, this would help people back to work, and people on low income, but this would only apply to people earning below average national income. Children dont need to be taken away from the family, they only need HELP from the SS and GOVERNMENT, nut we all know that is not going to happen, as the government just want to walk all over the low, and working class. When will the GOVERNMENT see that the Unskilled Europeans are only in the UK to Bleed our COUNTRY dry of our SS and NHS. Can any tell me why they are allowed to claim for child allowance for children that dont live in the UK? £10 per week will pay for their child care back home, but it does not pay for child care in the UK. How many SINGLE EUROPEAN PARENTS do we have in the UK? When you go to the ADVICE shop, you always see EUROPEANS there CLAIMING as much BENEFITS as they can, and they get it, When its someone from the UK, you have nothing but problems, do they check the EUROPEANS BANK ACCOUNTS when they are claiming BENEFITS?

innocent parents who trully am innocent of any crime towards there children
get the blame for all the real parents who are cruel and hurt children so can anyone tell me were the justice is in that
and the systems are the worst abusers ever
and why do proffessionals close there eyes behind the doors of the systems
abuse
mistreatment
lies
cover ups and more
well to be honest to cover there back sides
but children are suffering badly right now
and especially in the walsall foster system